Microbiology
Microbiology Research at WSU
Soil Microbiology research at Washington State University focuses on biological soil fertility and nutrient transformations. Bacteria, fungi, and archaea in soil contribute to physical, chemical, and biological soil health and quality though a variety of mechanisms. Agroecosystems present not only a critical setting in which we gain vital information to understand how management may foster healthy soils to sustainably feed the earth’s growing populus, but also allow us a certain level of control under which we gain basic understanding of the phylogeny and function of microbial communities under a wide array of conditions and crops. Our fundamental goal is to leverage the vast capabilities of the soil microbial communities to sustainably enhance crop quality and yield.